Album: Word Up! (1986)

Charted: 3 6

License This Song 

• Oh
  
  Yo, pretty ladies around the world
  Got a weird thing to show you
  So tell all the boys and girls
  Tell your brother, your sister
  And your mama too
  'Cause we're about to throw down
  And you'll know just what to do
  Wave your hands in the air like you don't care
  Glide by the people as they start to look and stare
  Do your dance, do your dance
  Do your dance quick, mama
  Come on, baby, tell me what's the word
  
  Oh, word up
  Everybody say when you hear the call
  You've got to get it underway
  Word up, it's the code word
  No matter where you say it
  You'll know that you'll be heard
  
  Now all you sucker DJs
  Who think you're fly
  There's got to be a reason
  And we know the reason why
  You try to put on those Airs and you act real cool
  But you got to realize that you're acting like fools
  Give us music, we can use it
  We need to dance
  We don't have the time for psychological romance
  No romance, no romance
  No romance for me, mama
  Come on, baby, tell me what's the word
  
  Oh, word up
  Everybody say when you hear the call
  You've got to get it underway, ow
  
  Oh
  Dial "L" for low
  
  Come on, all you people sing
  W-O-R-D up, W-O-R-D up
  W-O-R-D up, W-O-R-D up (woo)
  
  W-O-R-D up
  W-O-R-D up Writer/s: Larry Blackmon, Tomi Jenkins
  Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 11

• Markantney from BiloxiNov 20,
  Since the site is primarily about "Pop" hits, it goes with the more Pop popular "Word Up" but club/R&B "Candy" beats it by a hair. Both hits were huge though
• Michelle from California, UsaThe Gun cover is on the "Barb Wire" soundtrack.
• Jo from Huntly, New ZealandThis song is GREAT! But I think I like KoRn's Version better as it sounds more like a party.
• John from Nashville, Tn"Word Up" was Cameo's first of two top 40 pop hits (the followup "Candy" was the other one). It served as the title tune to the group's first platinum album. Before this massive success, Cameo collected seven gold albums and several top 10 r&b hits.
• Don from Indianapolis, InAnother note, Cameo might have been calling out a rap group called "UTFO". They are most famous for starting the "Roxanne, Roxanne" rap battles that by the end, had a couple of dozen "answer-counter answer" records that involved those known and unknown. UTFO's follow-up hit, was a song called "Split Personality" in which they rap-sample some of the words to Cameo's title track hit, "Single Life." It could have been a little Cameo-style commentary there...
• Don from Indianapolis, InOne of the BEST dance/funk songs to come out of the '80's. The group has the same claim in my opinion. They put Atlanta on the "musical map" long before LaFace Records did, along with all these rappers who constantly lay claim to it being home.
• David from Baden-baden, GermanyGun did a very awesome rock version!
• Constance from Dallas, TxCameo did the best version period! Hands down! LOL!
  Constance Dallas, TX
• Theo from Johannesburg, South Africathe korn version is awesome!!!jon davis rules!
• Joel from Columbia, ScI like the Korn version better lol
• Linda from OudenaardeRock band Gun did a magnificent cover version of this song.

More Songfacts:

Police Dog BluesHugh Laurie

Hugh Laurie, star of the TV show House, had a minor hit in 2011 with "Police Dog Blues," an old Blues song from 1929.

Black WidowIggy Azalea

Katy Perry co-wrote Iggy Azalea's hit single "Black Widow." Perry was originally going to sing on the track, but she couldn't fit it into her schedule, so Rita Ora provided the sung vocals instead.

Only Wanna Be With YouHootie & the Blowfish

"Only Wanna Be With You" by Hootie & the Blowfish is a tribute to Bob Dylan, but Dylan sued them over it for using lyrics from his song "Idiot Wind."

Can't Get You Out Of My HeadKylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" received more airplay during the 2000s than any other song in the UK.

If I Could Turn Back TimeCher

Cher was 43 in 1989 when she landed one of her biggest hits: "If I Could Turn Back Time." It made her an unlikely MTV star thanks to a video shot on the battleship USS Missouri where she's entertaining the troops in fishnet stockings and a thong.

More Than a FeelingBoston

Boston leader Tom Scholz went back to his job at Polaroid after releasing the group's debut album. When his co-workers kept coming by to tell him "More Than A Feeling" was playing on the radio, he knew it was time to quit his day job.

Editor's Picks

Mac Powell of Third DaySongwriter Interviews

The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album.

Jello BiafraSongwriter Interviews

The former Dead Kennedys frontman on the past, present and future of the band, what music makes us "pliant and stupid," and what he learned from Alice Cooper.

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.